early 14c., from Old French benigne (12c., "kind, benign, merciful, gracious;" Modern French bénin, fem. bénigne), from Latin benignus "kindly, kindhearted, friendly, generous," literally "well born," from bene "well" (see bene-) + gignere "to bear, beget," from genus "birth" (see genus). For similar sense evolution, compare gentle, kind (adj.), generous. Related: Benignly.
雙語例句
1. We're taking relatively benign medicines and we're turning them into poisons.
我們服的藥相對來說藥性溫和，但是我們卻在把它們變成毒藥。
來自柯林斯例句
2. This plunge came in a time of relatively benign economic conditions.